Luck passes Stanford to Orange Bowl win

Andrew Luck threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns, leading fifth-ranked Stanford past No. 12 Virginia Tech, 40-12, in the Orange Bowl in Miami on Monday.

Stanford (12-1) earned its first bowl win in 14 years and likely will end the season ranked in the top five for the first time since the unbeaten 1940 team finished No. 2. The Cardinal’s success comes only four years after they went 1-11 and hired coach Jim Harbaugh to lead a turnaround.

Virginia Tech (11-3), playing in a bowl game for the 18th consecutive year, fell to 1-27 against top five teams.

ANNOUNCER PULLED

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ESPN pulled announcer Ron Franklin from its radio coverage of Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl after he reportedly berated a female colleague.

Sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards wrote in an e-mail to USA Today in response to Internet reports that Franklin called her “sweet baby” in a condescending tone Friday. When she objected, he used a derogatory term. Edwards said a colleague reported the incident to ESPN officials.

Franklin said in a statement released by the network: “I said some things I shouldn’t have and am sorry. I deserved to be taken off the Fiesta Bowl.”

PITT UPDATE

Dave Wannstedt, ousted as Pittsburgh’s football coach last month, announced he won’t be on the sideline for the Compass Bowl against Kentucky on Saturday.

Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, the former SMU head coach, will serve as the interim coach.

A magistrate in Indiana entered a not guilty plea on a felony domestic violence charge for Mike Haywood, who replaced Wannstedt. Haywood was hired Dec. 16 but fired Saturday after his arrest the day before.

EXTRA POINTS

Sophomore running back Adam Robinson, who led Iowa in rushing during the regular season, was dismissed from the team one week after he was arrested for marijuana possession. Connecticut named assistant head coach for the defense Hank Hughes as interim coach while it seeks a replacement for Randy Edsall, who was hired by Maryland. A person familiar with LSU running back Stevan Ridley’s eligibility status says the Tigers’ leading rusher has been cleared to play against Texas A&M in Friday’s Cotton Bowl. Missouri junior Blaine Gabbert, projected by some as the second-best quarterback prospect, said he will enter the NFL draft. Florida confirmed former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis will be Will Muschamp’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Indiana junior receiver Tandon Doss, a two-time all-Big Ten player who was fourth in the nation in all-purpose yards (175.8) per game, will enter the draft. Georgia coach Mark Richt has not yet decided whether to suspend backup linebacker Marcus Dowtin after learning he was charged with assault last year. Rutgers hired Pittsburgh assistant Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Miami hired UConn’s Terry Richardson as running backs coach. Purdue promoted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gary Nord to assistant head coach, put co-defensive coordinator Gary Emanuel in charge of the defense and made co-defensive coordinator Donn Landholm a position coach, likely linebackers.

Sugar Bowl

Arkansas (10-2) vs. Ohio St. (11-1)

WHEN: Today, 5:30 p.m., ESPN. WHERE: New Orleans.

Line: Ohio State by 31/2

THE BUZZ: Ohio State has had all sorts of trouble with SEC teams in bowl games, which means this is an opportunity for the Buckeyes to regain some respect. Arkansas has won six in a row and has scored at least 31 in all six and at least 38 in five of the six.